The Fault of Being Faithful

 The Fault of Being Faithful

 

 

I long to have no fault but this

The one fault that is not amiss

The fault of being faithful

For men will find this still a fault

And with their tongues will strong assault

This fault of being faithful

For I have known fault of my own

When less than His full grace I’ve shown

And fell far short of faithful

But grace awakened sorrow came

A double portion replaced shame

And spurred me on to faithful

A diligent borne fire renewed

The Holy Spirit’s might endued

The quest for being faithful

Till life’s last breath

Shall end in death

The finish line found faithful?

Renewed desire

Full grace inspire

To be found in Him faithful

And in that day

By grace shall say

T’was He who made me faithful

Heaven’s prize

Men will despise

The fault of being faithful

 

Hearts of Flesh Bleed

I’d rather have pain than porosis

It’s better to hurt than be hard

If I would be formed in His image

Then like Him I will bruise and be scarred

Since He was made perfect through suffering

A perfect high priest to become

Then even in this let me know Him

Taste His grief, feel his pain, be alone

For stony hearts wince not at chastening

But scourgings make hearts of flesh bleed

And weak ones will yield to this mercy

While proud hearts stay blind to their need

Lord save me from my love of comfort

And take from me my heart of stone

I know hearts of flesh know more suffering

But they also feel love like your own

A Rest Profound

I have seen a rest profound, a tranquil constant peace

Each time I hear that inner voice and all my strivings cease

A secret learned through lessons taught by difficulties real

To lean not on the strength my own and trust not how I feel

Each time He led me through a trial experience did gain

To count all joy the hardship and embrace with faith the pain

And hope became that anchor strong to hold my reeling soul

And know beyond a shadow’s doubt my Lord was in control

The treasure gained from buffeting new freedom from all care

Assured the same good providence would every time be there

And from sure hope a grateful calm serenity was found

As He became my confidence my own mind became sound

God Can Make...

The strain of my misery

Into the strength of His mercy

The storm of my feeling

Into the serenity of His faith

The wound of my hurt

Into the wonder of His healing

The bread of my adversity

Into the beauty of His adoration

The torment of my failure

Into the triumph of His favor

The guilt of my sin

Into the grace of His salvation

The confusion of my wandering

Into the clarity of His ways

The bitterness of my rebellion

Into the beauty of His righteousness

The groan of my wrestling

Into the glory of His resting

All things beautiful in His time

I Once Feared My Accuser's Blame

I once feared my accusers’ blame 
and castigation of my name
But then His grace and mercy came
and lo to my surprise no shame!

A double portion - Can it be?
When I deserve malignity
And beauty for my ashes too?
And favor still my God with You?

Such love is more than justice yea!
It turns my darkest hour to day.
My wretched robes He sets aside
And clothes me as His holy bride

Now I can stand and face my foes
fear none of their tormenting blows
For all my debts Himself He paid
And all my sins His own He made

The burden that had tortured me
He lifted off and set me free
And more than just my debt He paid
Myself the wretch His son He made

How can one fathom such a love?
No source on earth ‘tis from above
Could ever bring such grace to light
That heals all wrong and makes all right

A table He has set for me
before blaspheming enemy
And welcomes me as special guest
Who men would curse He now calls blest

So hear me all who would condemn
And rightly judge my own great sin
I shall not seek a quarrel with you
The wretch you see He has made new

O For a Heart At Perfect Peace

O for a heart 
in perfect Peace

Compassion filled 
and care released

When facing fear 
by faith assured

To follow Him 
whose joy endured

O for a heart 
fully at rest

Secure in Him 
who know what’s best

To turn into 
the raging storm

Embracing trials 
where faith is born

O for a heart 
content and still

By trust in Him 
whose perfect will

The instrument 
of pain will use

To crush His’ sons – 
by men’s hands bruise

O for a heart 
when that will receive

Whatever helps 
men to believe

Be it painful trial 
or bruising rod

So long as men 
are brought to God

Assurance or Assumption

Assurance or assumption
holds a difference none to small


Assurance promised to a few
assumed by nearly all


Not every way is guarded
save but one found by a few


Who walk upright, with God in sight,
His every word to do

For it is but assumption
to presume God will defend

The wayward soul whose secret goal
is seeking his own end 

"When I cannot enjoy the faith of assurance,
I live by the faith of adherence." 
~Matthew Henry

His Story His Glory

Where is the glory that made it His story,

the power that made it His hour?

The glorious light restoring men's sight

and drove out the demons with power?

Where is the glory that made it His story,

the power men fled from in fear?

The thundering sound and the trembling ground

that was seen when Jehova drew near?

Where is the glory that made it His story,

when thousands were fed fish and bread?

When seas calm were made by the voice they obeyed

and women received back their dead?

Where is the glory that made it His story,

has it left us, are we Ichabod?

Are we now bereft and without power left?

Oh where is the glory of God?

Where is the glory that made it His story,

without it we're bankrupt and lost

We must return to prayer and persevere there

till we taste once again Pentecost!

The Bull's Eye

A fire was set, no one knows where

But deadly ember came from there

Borne high aloft from distant place

Not lacking truth just lacking grace

The seed of fire though so minute

Fulfilled a scheme that so astute

Its origin no one could trace

The fire of hell needed no face

Begun a dart in carnal mind

Its undiscerning mark did find

The spark to carry by a word

To unsuspecting soul that heard

And brothers here and brothers there

Felt the affect though unaware

Unwholesome word kept them apart

A bulls-eye by one fiery dart

makrothumia

Wash Our Brother's Feet

The fiery darts kept coming from those yet naïve and young

Supplied by one accuser from each unsuspecting tongue

His subterfuge kept hidden by confusion he inspired

As each unwitting instrument upon his brother fired

His scheme of old worked just as well as when Cain killed his brother

For envy will forever blind our love for one another

Through darkened council Satan’s schemes though old affect still yet

As brothers lured into his snares view their own kind a threat

The only One who overcame all the accuser’s strife

Refused a sword, took up His towel and then laid down His life

So if while rushing hard to war Judas happen to meet

Lay down the sword, take towel and bowel and wash our brother’s feet

Mercy Unrecognized

Knowing our hearts tend to wander 
our Father has safeguards in place

Those men borne about by His Spirit, 
His own vessels of mercy and grace

These servants who call out in wisdom
 to those in their own eyes thought wise

We sadly too oft in our ignorance
 this grace and true mercy despise

Our Lord Himself knew this same treatment
 as One sent to reclaim His own

Saw most close their eyes and their ears to Him, 
and harden their hearts like a stone

Do we claim we’re past this same danger, unshakably firm that we stand

 While blind to how many around us are setting aside His command

To steadfastly render all diligence our election and calling make sure

Salvation assured not to many, save those few whose love will endure

Yet knowing a judgment awaits us, the record of all we have done

We’ll each give account for our actions and words every unwholesome one

These men borne about by His Spirit like prophets of God gone before

Are still much opposed by the people their message is meant to restore

For discipline never is pleasant but lovingly comes with much pain

To rescue the spiritually hardened and turn them to God once again

So beware lest we quench divine fire deceived we’re right in our own eyes

Rejecting true grace of His mercy the same prophecy we now despise

Behold the Lamb

Behold the Lamb

 

Behold the Lamb’s humility with mockers at His feet

With bruise and spittle on His face His suffering near complete

Behold His quiet dignity as men did laugh and scorn

As blood filled eyes the shame despised beneath the crown of thorn

 

Behold the Lamb’s meekness displayed in silence at the rod

As blow by blow each stroke did know was all the will of God

Behold what majesty withstood such cruelty from men

The silent intercessor groaned to pardon them from sin

 

Behold the Lamb silent and still while men His skin did flay

Laid down His life through yielded-ness God’s glory to display

Behold Him stand before the crowd rejected by His own

Once hailed as King by multitudes now loved by God alone

 

Behold the Lamb – No more than see - this nature I must know

To see alone a curse would be if only for a show

With tear filled eyes myself despise and all for Thee would give

To share Your nature, taste Your power and in Your grace to live

 

The Lesson of Eden

                        There in the middle of Eden it stood

The tree of the knowledge of evil and good

Not in the corner hidden from sight

But right in the center in broad daylight

Not unto Adam but Eve he came

The shrewdest of beasts, the serpent his name

Came to the women right in her home

But waited until she was alone

Began with a question to open her thought

A beguiling subtlety herein he sought

His aim not an answer for that he knew

Just get her to question and that would do

Her answer repeated from what she heard

The tree was forbidden by Elohim’s word

She said if they ate from it they would die

But the question had caused her to wonder why

The serpent encouraged her to use her mind

Search out the reason, what is behind

Might God’s prohibition be less then good

It takes some more thought to be understood

The women then looked at the tree again

And wondered just why it would be a sin

It looked good for food, pleasing the eyes

She thought isn’t it really good to be wise

The question the serpent anticipated

Accomplished its task when she hesitated

The serpent now left her alone with the tree

Her searching told him what her choice would be

The question is where that Eve started her fall

For the question was not even needed at all

She needed by faith to obey the command

God did not ask her to understand

The lesson of Eden for you and I

Beware of beginning to wonder why

As we start to question we hesitate

So obey and flee before it’s too late!

The Hidden Purpose

Peace was not His purpose

His instrument was pain

A regimented suffering

designed to increase strain

I tried to comprehend it

in vain to understand

the more I sought the truth to grasp

it slipped right through my hand

Loneliness and sorrow

became familiar friend

His answer to my fainting cry,

"Endure unto the end"

What was His aim I muttered

with hope and vision dim

I thought that my surrender

would make me more like Him

Then suddenly I saw it

a figure bruised and marred

beyond all recognition

His body ugly scarred

through tear filled eyes now gazing

the dawning light did see

His still voice broke the silence

"You asked to be like Me"

Take up the Towel and the Bowl

Take up the Towel and the Bowl

In a time of tremendous temptation

to take up the bow and the sword

Let's remember our Lord's preparation

before the travail of His soul

And let our full love manifest now

and take up the towel and the bowl

Let's wash all the feet of our brethren

and bless them in grace and in peace

without wood a fire cannot linger

without tale bearing strife too will cease

If we see with the eyes that are carnal

the enemies look much like men

 and our anger will place us in danger

and drive us with passion to sin

O Lord set a guard on my mouth now,

and keep a watch over my tongue

grant me discernment with each thought

and I'll mortify them while they've young

Give me the mind of Christ Jesus

to yield to Your ways and be still

And lay down my life for my brothers

in prayer that this fulfill Your will

I thank You for using men's passions

to work out Your purpose on earth

And I thank You for travailing labor

that brings us to spiritual birth

I have one request for today Lord,

just one pressing hope for this hour

That more of Your likeness I'll bear now

and know more of Your living power

A Symphony of One

Make us a symphony of One

Focused upon One conductor

Tuned to One concert pitch

Submitted to One tempo

Content to play One part

Perfected to One sound

Resulting in One purpose

The praise of our Composer

Free us from solo vain glory

Content us to watch as we rest

Ready to play our one measure

Trusting our Maestro knows best

Teach us love’s concert ambition

Cleanse us from comparing pride

Put to death vain competition

Let harmony's fruit now abide

That Thou blessed Lord may have pleasure

Diverse yet through unity one

Accomplishing Your One true treasure

The summation of all in Your SON

A Little Thought

 A little thought entered my mind, it caught me by surprise

And as it lingered there a bit a stirring did arise

Slow at first, so as not to jolt, feelings began to brew

Then almost imperceptibly a storm of passion grew

 The thought though harmless seemed at first, too late I recognized

As firey dart from crafty foe, my enemy disguised

Awakening too slow at first, to see the sneak attack

I struggled hard to arm myself, regretting much my lack

 The sound of battle grew amid the chaos of the din

A storm of thoughts with feelings mixed enticing me to sin

I’d sure have failed left to myself, but one clear voice I heard

“See here the way escape my son”, His true and faithful word

 Though weakened by the front assault, I took hold of the sword

As Spirit spoke within my heart that quick and powerful word

New faith was born from what I heard, my shield I raised and lo

The firey darts were quenched at once and visible my foe

 A lesson learned from this short tale, more sober now to live

And never through neglect a chance the enemy to give

Those little thoughts that enter soft might deadly soon become

So help me Jesus captives make of each and every one

When the Demons Tremble

Do we marvel at the power of Jesus

Are we awed by His authority

When we're crippled by those things that please us

While He took up our infirmity

Do we gasp when the waves cease their roaring

Left stunned by the quieted sea

Like the unfinished timid disciples

Confused by such pure majesty

Are we not left numb with this question

What's the difference between ourselves and He

If we all have the same consolation

Then why not the same power we see?

The honest heart craves a true answer

Not satisfied by man-made lies

That cover our spiritual cancer

While faith and hope in many dies

In brokenness and true confession

Comes forth that faint heavenly voice

The answer to our groaning question

Is simply a matter of choice

He chose to believe only One word

He never acted on His own

He waited till that voice He had heard

He fully acknowledged God's throne

When we learn to submit as the Son did

His power will be seen in us too

 Demons never fear and start trembling 

till they first see His power formed in you

What Follows Close Behind?

What follows close behind? 

I was walking as the shadows grew, the light was fading fast

My thoughts were troubled as I mused reflecting on my past

To make it worse I thought I heard the sound of steps behind

I wasn’t sure someone was there but fear tempted my mind

So just in case I changed my gait spurred on by inner fear

But much to my alarm the sounds of steps behind grew near

This walk now far from pleasant more a nightmare had become

Not helped at all by memories of the trouble I’d come from

What would I use for my defense should there be an attack

The fear unknown much more had grown the threat behind my back

To quell the fear I made the choice to stop and stand my ground

With muscles tense I turned to pounce and this is what I found

No one was there, no sound of steps, I stood still all alone

The only sound now on my ear was my own desperate moan

I turned again a bit confused and started off once more

And wondered why when fear did knock I opened up the door

No sooner had the question formed the answer quickly came

The fear of man becomes a snare – my own heart was to blame

More conscious of what men might know and think or say of me

I fled when none pursued at all for I lost sight of Thee

A lesson from this parable I offer as a friend

There is a way to close the door and bring fear to an end

Don’t flee the past, don’t troubled be, don’t fret within your mind

The sound you hear is goodness all and mercy near behind

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”